Excavation & Dating of Real Fossils Lab

Middle school teacher Beth Richert has created the perfect mixture of Plaster of Paris, sand, and water for excavating real fossils.

The first activity allows students to practice their excavation skills using real sharks’ teeth. In the second, you deposit two or three fossils that are traditionally found at different stratifications between the cambrian and tertiary. Through excavation of these fossils, students will observe that newer fossils are located closer to the surface. Includes instructions and materials for eight student groups. Grades 4–9.